There's some cross-Channel diplomatic sparring going on over how best to help the Burmese people most effectively after Cyclone Nargis. Lord Malloch Brown is just back from Rangoon claiming credit for the agreement on what he calls the "middle way", a compromise announced today under which the West would let Burma's neighbours take the lead in delivering aid, in order to get round the junta's refusal to allow foreign aid workers to distribute aid inside the country.
Bernard Kouchner, the French foreign minister, would probably call this compromise appeasement. He still wants the UN security council to invoke the notion of the "responsibility to protect" in order to force aid through to the Irrawaddy delta where an estimated 2m people are in dire need of food and medical help.
The UK, which this month chairs the UN security council, says that the concept does not apply to humanitarian crises and was designed to enable outside forces to intervene in cases of crimes against humanity.
But then who could have imagined that any government would demonstrate such callous disregard for the fate of its own people struck by a major cyclone? Malloch Brown told me that he spoke to Kouchner last week and said that "at this point, we have to try what works."
He also points out that if aid were forcibly distributed, the generals would immediately react by throwing out the relief agencies who are in Burma, thereby penalising those who most need help. There is one aspect of this disaster however on which both men agree: that this is a race against time.
That's why Malloch Brown - like the French minister, a former relief worker in his youth - hasn't entirely ruled out the Kouchner option.
A policy that was called "masterly inaction" in the C19th, I believe.
Bottler Brown bottles it again.
Couldn't even meet the Dalai Lama at Downing Street because he's gutlessly frightened of the Chinese. What a spineless apology for a PM Brown is.
Posted by: Neil McGowan | Tuesday, 20 May 2008 at 10:14 AM
What do you expect from a PM who was,nt elected for the job, and can,t even run his own country with any degree of honesty, let alone organise help for thousands of desperate people half a world away.
"Too little too late".This gouvernment,s rallying cry
Posted by: David Hutton | Tuesday, 20 May 2008 at 10:51 AM
I side with the French approach on this one - it would very likely speed up the delivery of aid and have the corollary effect of pointing the junta toward the exit door.
Posted by: Julian Pieniazek | Tuesday, 20 May 2008 at 10:55 AM
I’ll put up a $100,000 dollars for any Burmese soldier
or civilian, friend who can deliver me General Than Shwe head
on a silver platter.
I want his head!
And I’m willing to pay for it!
Posted by: Steve Real | Tuesday, 20 May 2008 at 11:11 AM
Amazing that France thinks its OK to use force to help these suffering people but when it comes to Iraq, France and most others had their head stuck in the sand. The people there were suffering -- different cause, same effect -- under Saddam -- being tortured, mass murders, etc. Saddam defied the UN multiple times and his people had to suffer under sanctions, and when he did one last time the US kicked him out and the holier than though righteous French were there to condemn it and support Saddam. Hypocrites.
Posted by: Chad | Tuesday, 20 May 2008 at 11:44 AM
Chad, I can't believe u're still buying into the nonsense that the US led invasion in Iraq was about humanitarian issues. If that were the case, Sudan would be under US occupation, So would Zimbabwe and any other country with a humanitarian crisis. No nation puts itsel in perpetual debt to help others. For a better reason why the US invaded Iraq, you need to understand what money is my friend. The funny thing is that pre the war, Iraq started selling oil in Euro's. After the invasion, Iraqi oil was once again sold in $US. Do the math my friend, if any decision by govts ever baffle you, do what i do. Follow the money trail. The French understand all too well, that war's are somewhat futile.
Posted by: GD | Tuesday, 20 May 2008 at 01:06 PM
Sadly most yanks still believe the anti-French propoganda dished-out for dummies by Rumsfeld and his cronies. So it's no surprise to find this empty crock being circulated here by a few of the less academically able.
Posted by: Neil McGowan | Tuesday, 20 May 2008 at 01:44 PM
I don't think Brown is frightened of the Chinese at all, a group of friends just returning from holiday in Tiber said that the Tibetans are very happy on the whole and the western press just blow it all out of proportion. We really have to transcend this petty hatred of other lands it does us no good at all; just because of their economic success. Brown would not meet the Dalai Lama because it would be very stupid to do it just before the Beijing Olympics and stir up more hatreds; he has been diplomatic which is his job. He had no chance to be elected as Blair resigned from his job ; there will be an election eventually and I doubt if David Cameron will do a better job; we may be wishing for Brown back after a year or two.
Posted by: Sara Montague | Tuesday, 20 May 2008 at 02:12 PM
Well, someone must take action because the military is using the international aids for their own benefits. They are storing some aids,selling some in black market. Yap of course, they are distributing some to cover up.
Posted by: A Burmese | Tuesday, 20 May 2008 at 02:19 PM
What do you want to buy? Anything from the international aids? High energy biscuits? Mosquito nets? Tents? Portable Generators?
U can buy one mosquito net for 5000 kyats (nearly 5 US Dollars) and generator for 50000 kyats (nearly 50 US dollars)
Posted by: A burmese | Tuesday, 20 May 2008 at 02:22 PM
We Burmese welcome anyone who can over throw the stupid General in Burma. Come on, US, UK, France whoever, welcome.
Now we are living in hell, nothing is worse than under Junta, if you do not believe? Come and see it by yourself in Burma. Ask anyone in the street.
Posted by: Oway | Tuesday, 20 May 2008 at 04:42 PM
Where are you now? US, UK, France. Come on quickly. We need you. Now we are living like the hell.
Posted by: zungchyang | Tuesday, 20 May 2008 at 05:02 PM
The world is full of politics and bureaucratic. Perhaps the UN needs reformed so it can be of a little bit more of pragmatic help to the urgent needs something like Burma issue. That little probably might help millions of people though.
Posted by: Elv | Wednesday, 21 May 2008 at 05:33 AM
Why aren't Total petrol stations simply denied planning permission in UK - denying support to the Burmese regime.
BP and Shell would happily take over the franchises and it's a specific action the UK can take.
Posted by: tim garbutt | Thursday, 03 July 2008 at 09:17 AM